EVERY child enjoying a big birthday bash looks forward to lots of presents. But when Willow Boardman-Owen, Matthew Jackson and Charlie Barker celebrated their sixth birthdays they insisted their pals came empty handed.

Instead, they were asked to donate cash to a cancer charity in memory of Willow's grandfather, Brian Owen, who died at the Marie Curie Centre in Liverpool last year, and they raised an impressive £700.

More than 30 children turned up at the party at Puddletown Pirates, in Botany Bay, each dipping into their piggy banks to make donations.

Willow's mother, Briony, aged 41, said: "Willow really wanted to do this. She said she wasn't bothered about getting presents, she just wanted to help people living with cancer. I'm extremely proud of her and her friends."

People visiting Botany Bay also opened their wallets when they heard about the fundraising party and it helped to swell the charity pot.

Willow said: "It's a lot of money and it will make people better."

Briony and her husband, Stephen, aged 38, of Somerset Road, Heaton, organised the joint party.

The children handed over the money at the launch of the Marie Curie Cancer Care charity's annual Daffodil fundraising appeal.

Christine O'Sullivan, Community Fundraising Manager, said: "We were all very touched by the children's lovely gesture. What a fantastic achievement for ones so young."

Brian's widow Marie said: "Brian would have been so proud of Willow."